The moon called
710 Words
~Jordan~
Ahead of me, Raiden leapt onto one of the Finfolk, his massive form gleaming dark black under the moonlight. He was power and grace incarnate, viciousness in living form. Awe filled me, chasing away some of the fear. I hsd only seen him as a bear, never any other creature, but he was magnificent in any form.
Raiden’s jaws clamped into the Finman’s shoulder, and he shook him before tossing him aside. Desperate desire flared inside me. Not for him. No, I wanted to be him. It was like there was a wolf awakening inside me who wanted nothing more than to join her mate in the hunt. My muscles burned, and my heart ached. The moon called to me, the pale light reaching inside my soul and trying to draw the beast out.
But nothing happened. Nothing but pain.
It sliced me, fiercer than before, and I nearly went to my knees. What was wrong on with me? I’d felt nothing inside myself for so long. No hint of my wolf. Now, there was something desperate to come out, but I couldn’t make it.
Through a veil of tears, I hurled another fireball as an attacker headed for Raiden. I had no idea why we were being attacked—the Finfolk clearly weren’t friendly after dark—but I didn't want to kill them if I could help it. We were the invaders here. And we’d been warned.
My bomb smashed against the chest of the Finwoman who was nearly upon Raiden. She lit up in flames, screeching. It wasn’t my hottest fire and wouldn’t leave too many burns, but a little fire would send them back into the sea to recover.
My heart pounded violently in my chest as I looked behind me and spotted the second line of Finfolk growing closer. I so wished I could shift. Instead, I drew another potion bomb, feeling the warmth of the moon on my skin.
It called to me, reaching deep into my soul, soothing and ravaging at the same time. More and more, the feeling was growing. Ever since I’d been in the stone circle, I’d felt it inside myself. I still didn’t understand it, but I wanted it. And something about being here made the feeling rage all the stronger. It was the moon, this island—a past I didn’t know and feared was fraught with lies. I shoved the thoughts away.
There were still two Finfolk between us and the boat. Raiden lunged at one, and I hurled my third fire ball at another. I was using my weakest magic, now, but my most reliable. The bomb exploded against the Finman’s chest in a fiery blaze, and he ran screaming into the water.
Raiden dispatched the last of our attackers, then we raced for the boat. He shifted in midair and braced his hands against the bow to shove the boat out to sea.
“Get in!”
I leapt into the boat, then grabbed the oars and settled them into their sockets. Raiden heaved us off the beach, and the waves rocked our little craft as I pulled on the oars, giving it my all.
“Let me take over,” Raiden said. “I’m stronger.”
It was true, but we were almost there. I could feel the barrier weakening. “Just a few more strokes. Get the charm.”
At my words, hands appeared on the sides of the boat, pale and gnarled. Finfolk heads appeared from beneath the waves, green hair waving in the water as their eyes gleamed up at me.
“Hurry!” I shouted.
Raiden pulled the charm from his pocket, smacking one of the Finfolk off when he tried to climb into the boat. My heart shot into my throat as a hand gripped my leg. I kicked out, breaking the grip, and pulled hard on the oars to drag us over the line and out of the barrier of the protection charm that trapped us.
“Now!” I smacked another Finfolk with my oar. Raiden hurled the charm to the floor of the boat, and a silver cloud burst up. We dove in at the same time, just as the boat was overrun by Finfolk.
- Writer
